LAGOS (SUNDIATA POST)- Beer Sectoral Group (BSG) of Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and other stakeholders have advocated the need to advance the ‘don’t drink and drive’ campaign.
The initiative seeks to highlight the important role of sobriety in ensuring road safety and reducing accidents.
They made the call at the MAN beer sector group “Don’t Drink and Drive” campaign on Tuesday in Lagos.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that BSG, as a subsector of MAN Food and Beverages Sector, represents Nigerian Breweries Plc, Guinness Nigeria Plc, and International Breweries Plc.
Mr Hans Essaadi, Chairman of the BSG, stressed the need to unite for a cause that transcends industries and touches the very fabric of society.
Essaadi, also the Managing Director of Nigerian Breweries Plc, said that promoting responsible drinking, enhancing road safety, and preventing drunk driving were essential.
He lauded the FRSC for its steadfast dedication to road safety; a commitment, he said aligns with the group’s shared mission of committing to meaningful social responsibility initiatives.
“Today, we reaffirm our collective commitment to promoting responsible drinking and increasing awareness of the dangers of drunk driving.
“Each year, countless lives are tragically lost due to accidents caused by impaired driving, losses that are entirely preventable.
“This campaign focuses on three key pillars: education, enforcement, and the encouragement of responsible behaviour,” he said.
Essaadi noted that manufacturers of alcoholic beverages recognised the critical role they play in advocating for the responsible consumption of their products.
According to him, the group’s message, “If you drink, don’t drive”, is simple yet essential.
“We believe celebrations and enjoyment should never come at the cost of lives and we urge all Nigerians to make responsible choices, such as appointing designated drivers or utilising ride-hailing services and taxis after consuming alcohol.
“Our collaboration with the FRSC has been instrumental in advancing this campaign.
“Together, we have taken proactive steps, including donating breathalysers to support enforcement efforts, ensuring that drivers on our roads are sober and fit to drive.
“This partnership exemplifies the power of public-private collaboration to create meaningful social impact,” he said.
He revealed that, as part of ongoing effort to sensitise the public about the dangers of drinking and driving, on Dec. 11, the campaign would extend to three major motor parks in Lagos; Ojodu, Ojota, and Oshodi.
Lagos State Sector Commander, Federal Road Safety Corps, Kehinde Hamzat, said the beer sector, as part of a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), owed a duty to the campaign.
He urged parents of driving age to shun careless driving and ensure they lived long to perform their responsibility of raising their children.
This, he said, was important to ensuring the vision of children are preserved and making sure they do not become menace to the society.
Hamzat called on the passenger to always speak up against dangerous driving, noting that crashes kill more passengers than drivers.
“If you monitor the drivers and they know there’s an inevitable crash coming, they brace better while the passengers feel the impact the most.
“You must live to perform your responsibility, so “Don’t drink and drive. Don’t drive and drink”, he said.
Bolanle Edwards, Convener, Strap and Safe Child Foundation, said the likelihood of a severe crash was doubled when alcohol is involved.
According to her, it impairs judgement, slows reaction time and makes the road very dangerous.
She revealed that the foundation conducted a thorough survey to understand the causes of frequent road crashes, including those involving tankers, and launched a campaign to address the issue.
Edwards said issues like fatigue, visual impairment, speed to meet target, drinking and driving were issues that were discovered, with alcohol consumption by drivers at about 70 per cent.
She said in Lagos, it was discovered that a lot of underaged drivers drove trucks and while they might not be alcoholics, they got intoxicated by other items.
“These were real concerns to us and we went all out to talk to the association and began to educate and train drivers on the need to do better for safety sake and we noticed a reduction at the time.
“We must amplify the campaign against drunk driving, particularly with its impact on family, children and society at large.
“We must begin to install safety features at strategic locations around us and in school transportation and we must prioritise safety best practices.
“Together, we can be the change makers that ensure no child looses his lives or loved ones to preventable crashes,” she said.(NAN)
